Barber County Kansas

Captain Alexander A. Case, USMC

Marine Captain Alexander A. Case, 39, of Medicine Lodge, recently was promoted to that rank at the Marine Corps Air Station, Santa Barbara, Calif., where he is engineering officer of a Marine air group.

Captain Case, who enlisted in 1925 and served 17 years as an enlisted man before being commissioned in February, 1942, wears the Presidential Unit Citation ribbon and ribbons for service in Nicaragua and the Virgin Islands. Early this year he was cited by Admiral W. F. Halsey for "skillful and effective performance of duty" is maintenance of aircraft in the Solomon Islands.

He was graduated from Medicine Lodge high school where he played football, basketball and track. He attended College of Emporia for one year.


Barber County Index, March 23, 1944.

Lt. A. A. Case Is Decorated

Marine Corps Air Station, Santa Barbara, Calif. -- A citation for "skillful and effective performance of duty under adverse, circumstances" was awarded to Marine First Lieutenant Alexander A. Case, 39, of Medicine Lodge, Kansas, in a recent ceremony here. Lieutenant Case is serving here as assistant engineering officer of a marine fighter squadron.

Signed by Admiral W. F. Halsey, the citation was presented to Lieutenant Case by Major General J. C. Fegan, USMC of Camp Pendleton, Calif. Sixteen other Marine heroes were decorated in the ceremony.

Lieutenant Case was commended for his work while serving as engineering and ordnance officer of a fighter squadron serving in the Soloman Islands between November 11, 1942 and January 22, 1943.

"Lieutenant Case displayed exceptional qualities of leadership and industry in maintaining fighter aircraft used in the defense of Guadalcanal," the citation reads.

"Although seriously handicapped by inexperience personnel and a critical shortage of equipment and spare bombing and shelling, Lieutenant Case was able to maintain an exceptionally high percentage of the planes assigned to him in combat condition.

"As a result of his efforts our aerial forces were greatly assisted in repulsing the enemy and inflicting damaging blows upon their forces. His conduct was in keeping with the highest tradition of the United States Naval Service.

Lieutenant Case enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1925 and worked up through the ranks, being commissioned a second lieutenant in February, 1942. He wears the Presidential Unit Citation ribbon and ribbons for service in Nicaragua and the Virgin Islands.

The son of H. H. Case, 1426 University Avenue, San Diego, Calif.., formerly of Medicine Lodge. Lieutenant Case starred in football, basketball and track at the Medicine Lodge high school. For a year he attended the College of Emporia, Kansas.

His wife, the former Mary Wyncoop, of Larimer, Pennsylvania, now lives at 3884 Georgia Street, San Diego, with their three children, Charlotte Ruth, 5; March Blanche, 4; and Alexander H, 1.


 

Thanks to Shirley Brier for finding, transcribing and contributing the above news article to this web site!



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